Synthesis of Succinimide

Add 186 g of succinic acid to RBF, place the beaker in an ice bath and start adding 220 mL of 26% ammonia slowly. Assemble short path distillation without a condenser, add some boiling chips. Heat the mixture under a small flame to distill off all the water. When the temperature reaches over 100°C the mixture darkens. Switch the receiver and collect everything that comes off before yellow fumes temp 280-300°C. Cool down to room temperature and place the receiver into a freezer for 24h, recrystallize the crude succinimide in hot ethanol. Then filter the crystals and wash with 40 ml of cold ethanol.